Thousands of Australia’s most dedicated and hard-working volunteers — including our local group at Wellington — will be on deck to let you know more about what they do this weekend for Lions Awareness Day.

After more than 75 years of helping Australians, many realise how this vital role as a service club, is becoming increasingly important.

This may be through providing emergency relief during natural disasters, supporting farming communities during drought, supporting critical medical research into childhood cancers and diabetes, or working on local environmental programs. In all of these areas, this work is valued, and critical.

Wellington Lions — which itself started in 1957 — is holding a Preloved Book Fair in the Western Gallery for all Thursdays to Saturdays from 10–2pm for the months of March and April.

On these days, a Lions volunteer will be available to chat or let you choose from their thousands of books available, where most books are only a gold coin. This Saturday, March 2, after the Vintage Fair Parade, why not drop-in and buy a “vintage” book — or even a newer one!

On the Sunday, March 3 at the Vintage Fair, local Lions will also be busy barbecuing at the Showground with the help of their sister club from Kellyville in Sydney’s west.

“With over 25,000 members, Lions Australia is Australia’s largest service organisation, but there’s much more to us than fundraising barbecues,” a spokesperson said.

“That’s why we are taking the opportunity to tell our story on Lions Awareness Day; we want the rest of Australia to know more about what we do and the causes we support,” they added.

Like most service clubs, the local Lions are after new members as time and retirements, thin their ranks.

“We hope you’ll take the opportunity to join us at one of the many events that will be held across Australia,” the spokesperson said.

“Talk to a Lion, and ask them why they decided to give some of their time and effort to help others,” they concluded.